Helluva Mellon

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Old cats, young lions and free shows at this year's fest.

Wailin': Saxophonist Kirk Whalum will play the Keswick

Once again, the Mellon Jazz Festival swings into town with a cadre of excellent local and international jazz artists. This year's festival seems more strongly rooted in its Philly legacy than previous festivals, with a Johnny Coles tribute and performances by hometown heavyweights (Stanley Clarke, Pat Martino, McCoy Tyner) as well as lesser-known but strong local groups such as the Larry McKenna Trio and Countdown (which features Tyrone Brown, Eddie Green, Jim Miller and John Blake). There's also a serious Latin presence this year, with appearances by legendary Cuban bandleader Chucho Valdes and N.Y.C. timbalero Pucho Brown. Here are a few shows to check out:

One of the highlights of the festival is the Clef Club's "Philadelphia Jazz" program on Friday, June 12, at 8 and 10 p.m. The show will be hosted by last year's festival honoree, pianist McCoy Tyner. The first set will feature a group consisting of Jimmy Oliver, Mickey Roker and John Blake, with a special spotlight on the Clef Club Student Jazz Ensemble. The second set will essentially be an all-star jam session, featuring Tyner with Oliver, Roker, Blake, Christian McBride, and this year's festival honoree, Stanley Clarke. Each set costs $20, but you can see both for $30—proceeds go to the Coltrane Society and the Clef Club Ensemble. Call Upstages at 893-1145 or the Clef Club (Broad and Fitzwater Sts.) at 893-9912.

Three of Philadelphia's premier trumpeters - Terrell Stafford, John Swana and Duane Eubanks—offer their salute to Johnny Coles, who passed away earlier this year. The show takes place at the Clef Club on Sunday, June 14, at 6 p.m., $20.

Don't miss a rare stateside appearance by pianist Chuco Valdes and his quartet: bassist Alain Perez, percussionist Roberto Vizcaino and drummer Raul Pineda Roque. They'll be at International House (3701 Chestnut St.) on Monday,

June 15, at 7:30 p.m., $15, 387-5125.

On Tuesday, June 16, guitar legend Pat Martino performs at Temple's Rock Hall (North Broad St. and Cecil B. Moore Ave.) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available through Upstages at 569-9700. The same evening, violinist Regina Carter presents her quintet at Zanzibar Blue (Broad and Walnut Sts.) for 7 and 9 p.m. sets, $20, call 732-4500 for information.

Oh, Ella! Fitzgerald enthusiast Bridgewater will play the
Clef Club

Wednesday, June 17, brings what promises to be an intense show with the Mingus Big Band at Zanzibar, 7 and 9:30 p.m., $20.

The Keswick Theater (Easton Rd. and Keswick Ave.) presents

"An Evening of Guitar, Saxes and More" with Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot, Kirk Whalum and Mark Antoine, on Thursday, June 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 and available at 572-7650.

Judging by the critical and commercial success of her recent Ella Fitzgerald tribute, Dee Dee Bridgewater's show at the Clef Club on Friday, June 19, will be appropriately crowded. Sets are at 8 and 10 p.m., tickets are $20. The same evening (and the following) Harry "Sweets" Edison, a living legend and veteran of the Basie administration, appears at Zanzibar Blue for 9 and 11 p.m. sets, also $20.

On Saturday, June 20, Pucho and his Latin Soul Brothers hold court at Katmandu (417 N. Columbus Blvd.), for an 8 p.m. dinner show. Cover is just $8—call 629-7400 for reservations.

Free Jazz

No, we're not talking about Ornette Coleman or Anthony Braxton. We're talking shows—in addition to Stanley Clarke's show on Penn's Landing—that don't cost a dime. First off, up-and-coming vocalist Melissa Walker performs in the Mellon Bank Center Atrium (1735 Market St.) with a trio of pianist Orrin Evans, bassist James King and drummer Nasar Abadey, on Friday, June 12, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saxophonist Larry McKenna and his trio (which features bassist Pete Colangelo and pianist Jason Shateel) interpret the songbook of Harold Arlen during his concert at the Museum of American Art, 118 N. Broad St., on Sunday, June 14, from 1-3 p.m. (Okay, so you do have to pay museum admission—$5.95 adults, $4.95 for students and seniors, $3.95 for children 6-12.) The Wild Bunch Brass Band, a local New Orleans-inspired ensemble, performs at the Atwater Kent Museum (15 S. Seventh St.) on Thursday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The following afternoon trumpeter Terrell Stafford leads the Temple University Jazz Ensemble in the Mellon Bank Center Atrium from noon to 1:30 p.m. That evening Zydeco-a-Go-Go, another Louisiana-styled group, plays at Doylestown Central Park (425 Wells Rd.), at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, June 20, the Wiggins Park Riverstage in Camden will be the site of a smooth jazz concert featuring Al Jarreau, Boney James and Brian Culbertson, from noon to 5 p.m. The following afternoon, from 3-5 p.m., Countdown performs at Vernon Park (5800 Germantown Ave.).

For more Mellon Jazz Fest info call (610) 667-3559.

-Nate Chinen